...an award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics-from today and yesterday:all 32 Counties !Updated a number of times each week . (Mirror site here)

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"1169 And Counting is a wealth of information on our Republican past and present , and demonstrates how the Irish political landscape , like that of any nation, will never be a black and white issue..."

IRISH BLOG AWARDS 2017 - ooops! It seems that our entry application was "not completed in time to be considered.." (?) and, as such, we are not now in the running. But we wish all the best to the successful entrants and to the organisers, and we hope all goes well for them on the day!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

The same small , dedicated Clondalkin-based group of people that RSF worked with in 'N.O.T.A.' campaigns have produced a 'Vote No' leaflet in connection with the 'Austerity Treaty' vote which will be held in this State on Thursday 31st May 2012.

This co-operation has, once again , proved mutually beneficial to both groups , as the 'Pro NOTA / Anti Austerity Treaty' campaign group have had, so far , at least three times the amount of leaflets distributed than that which they themselves could have managed and RSF has upped its profile in Clondalkin and surrounding areas and made new contacts which will prove useful in the future. Also , RSF has used this opportunity to highlight a new website which they set-up in connection with the 'Austerity Treaty' and , in the same door-to-door , pub , club etc leaflet 'drop' , they have distributed thousands of their own leaflets. 'Win' or 'lose' on May 31st next , both groups have used the occasion to spread an anti-capitalist , pro-democracy message , and are to be congratulated for doing so !Thanks for reading ,Sharon.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....'By Peadar
O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.

How does one account for the failure of the Irish Labour Movement to
demand its quota of candidates in the General
Election of 1918 , so as to reflect the pattern of the Rising ?
The simplest explanation is , like as not, the true one - Labour
leaders could not make up their minds what road to take. They were a
bothered lot of men who gave themselves one task above every other
* , to hold the branches of the trade unions together in a
period of high controversy. (*...whereas today ,
their objective is to stay in power as long as it takes for their
pension entitlements to kick-in...)
I was a teachers'
representative on the Derry Trades and Labour Council before I
joined the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union as an organiser
, and I had a good view of their problem. I was there when the
council chose it's side on conscription for army service , probably
the only delegate who was not a representative of a cross-channel
union.
Billy Logue , who was, I think , Chairman - he certainly was the
greatest , single influence in the council - worked his way carefully
into the anti-conscription corner by making the case that labour
conscription would be round the corner should this other succeed , and
he insisted he was not influenced by politics. It was a transparent
enough piece of make-believe , but it got by, for it suited the
'loyalists' on the council.......
(MORE LATER).THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret
Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty
Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the
(State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack
Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to
O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November
1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.From 'MAGILL'
magazine , June 1980." I reported the 'traffic light' conversation immediately to the
Minister who was closetted with Assistant Secretary Mr. Ward , of the
Department of Finance , to ask the AIB authorities to put a stop order
on this account ; I told him that criminal charges were in
contemplation and that once preferred the police would be in a
position to apply to the High Court for an Order under the Banks 'Book
Evidence Act' and that , meanwhile, we wanted to ensure that
documents would not be released from the account , but Murray refused
to act and I could not stir him.
I then asked if he would ring Niall Ebrill , the General Manager, to
introduce me - I said that I would ring Ebrill and make an appointment
for myself once he had introduced my name. I wanted this introduction
so that Ebrill would be in no doubt that the Department of Finance
were aware of my purpose. Murray said yes , he would do that.
" MAY 22ND 1970 :" Next morning , accompanied by Mr. Ward , I went to AIB
Headquarters where I met Niall Ebrill , General Manager, and the Group
Law Agent , Rory O' Connor. I gave them a guarded outline of the
situation and said that as the account 'Belfast Fund for the Relief
of Distress' had been opened through the instrumentality of Mr. Tony
Fagan of the Department of Finance and as the moneys received into the
account through the medium of the 'Irish Red Cross Society' were , in
sizeable bulk , State money , the Minister for Justice was anxious
that documents were not released from the account pending police
enquiries which might result in an application in Court for discovery
of documents. Mr. Ebrill said that the matter would be considered and
referred , in a detatched manner , to the Bank's obligation to
maintain , and to be seen to maintain , confidentiality with
customers......"(MORE LATER).BOBBY SANDS COMMEMORATION , DUBLIN , SATURDAY 5TH MAY 2012.

Those attending this annual Republican Sinn Féin-organised
Commemoration are requested to fall-in behind the Republican Colour
Party at the Garden of Remembrance and march from there , at 1.45pm ,
to the GPO in O' Connell Street where , on the traffic isle facing
same, a small stage , a speakers lectern , music system and
amplification system will be set-up , under the direction of a young
man from the Ballyfermot area of Dublin , who will Chair the
proceedings. More details to follow , including details of the
function which will be held that same night in Dublin.Also , those interested in the above will be interested in
attending the 'Who Fears To Speak Of Easter Week' seminar which will be held on Saturday 21st April 2012 in the
'Ireland Institute' in Pearse Street , Dublin City Centre : details here.Thanks for reading,
Sharon.